Webber plays down talk of replacing Ralf Schumacher

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Australia's formula one driver Mark Webber has dismissed talk of a mid-season switch from Jaguar to the Williams team.

Williams' Ralf Schumacher has two spinal fractures and might not race again this year, heightening speculation that the team - which has made known it wants Webber next year - might try to poach the Australian in the next few weeks.

"Nothing has happened from Williams to us," Webber said on the eve of this weekend's French Grand Prix, the 10th round of the world championship. "We (Webber and his management) don't know any more than you guys (media) about how Ralf feels and how Williams want to deal with the situation."

"Of course you want to win races tomorrow, but I've never been closer to these guys (Jaguar) and we've got a job to do here."

Jacques Villeneuve is another being linked to Williams, the team with which the Canadian began in formula one and won a world title for in 1997.

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Villeneuve has been out of formula one this season after five years with BAR. One of Williams' test drivers, Spaniard Marc Gene, will race in the French GP and is a contender for a regular race drive next year, with Williams likely to need two replacements.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya revealed before the season began that he would join McLaren in 2005, while Ralf Schumacher's contract expires at the end of this year and he is expected to join Toyota.

Schumacher was injured in a crash during the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis two weeks ago, but his spinal fractures were discovered only this week.

He is expected to be out of racing for three months - and perhaps the whole season, which ends in Brazil on October 24.

Williams team chief Frank Williams has said he hopes to see Schumacher race again before the end of the season.